Farina Says It's OK for Some Parents to Opt Out of Statewide Tests

Students at the Bronx Academy of Promise work on preparing for their upcoming state tests in math and English. View Full Caption

DNAinfo/Eddie Small

BROOKLYN — Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said it's OK for some parents to opt out of statewide tests in English and Math, which runs counter to her public stance against the growing opt-out movement, DNAinfo New York has learned.

Her comments were made at an invite-only meeting Thursday night with parents who are part of the opt-out movement in Brooklyn's District 15.

“I think there is a place and a time to opt out,” Fariña told the parents from the district that includes Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and Sunset Park where she was once superintendent.

She provided two instances where, she said, “I certainly as a parent would opt out,” according to a transcript posted on Facebook of the meeting held at the Park Slope office of City Councilman Brad Lander.

One was for children with special needs who have mandated services through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The other was for newly arrived immigrants.

Just 4.4 percent of students who were English Language Learners were deemed proficient in English and 14.6 percent were proficient in math, based on last year’s scores. Nearly 7 percent of students with special needs were proficient in English and 11.3 percent were proficient in math.

“A special ed parent, with a child with an IEP who has a very low frustration level, who no matter how much you’re going to do is never [going to] get to a certain level on this kind of test,” she said. “That’s not to say that they’re not going to have success in life and so forth but to sit through a test with maybe a level 1 or 2 reader … I think it is a little bit, you know, too much.

"If I was a parent of a newly arrived immigrant, and I was taking the test after being in this country for one year, I’d say, 'What? Are you kidding?” Fariña said. “We want this changed … I want the NYSESLAT as a whole eliminated, but this particular criteria of putting kids through something that there’s no way they can succeed at, again that to me is an option [for opting out].”

Her words diverge from her previous statements as well as some recent actions of principals.

In August, when announcing the results of last year's state tests, Fariña said, "I don't believe in opt out. I believe that everyone needs to be assessed."

As head of the Board of Regents, Rosa now oversees the State Education Department, which administers the tests.

City Department of Education spokeswoman Devora Kaye said that Farina has met with parents to listen, answer questions, discuss concerns and educate community members about the changes that have been made to the state tests.

She is discussing how the changes "are beneficial for students, parents, teachers and administrators,” Kaye said.

“Specifically, the Chancellor consistently stresses that there will be fewer questions, unlimited time as long as students are working productively and that test scores won’t determine promotion,” she said. “The data collected is critical to inform better instruction, and while it is ultimately a parent's decision, the Chancellor urges families to rest assured that many of their concerns have been addressed and that participation is important in order to hold ourselves accountable for progress.”

Many parents and teachers, however, have pointed out that the tests have been reduced by roughly two questions, and though the tests will now be untimed, the time spent taking them is unlikely to decrease. Third graders, for instance, are still expected to spend seven hours taking the tests.

Lander said he "thought Chancellor Farina did a great job explaining her point-of-view, discussing the changes that have been made to the State tests, and listening to the views of those in the room."

He said the parents "effectively expressed their strong opinions, and we are lucky to have such engaged parent leaders in our neighborhood schools. I give the Chancellor a lot of credit for coming out to share her views, and to listen."

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